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Drug dealer Ethan Pope, 21, from Caerphilly, has been jailed for two-and-a-half-years after he was caught supplying cocaine via a county line to Cornwall.

‘County Lines’ is where illegal drugs are transported from one area to another, often across police and local authority boundaries.

The ‘County Line’ is the mobile phone line used to take the orders of drugs, according to the National Crime Agency.

Pope appeared in Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday September 28 after he pleaded guilty to being involved in the supply of cocaine and possession with intent to supply cocaine.

His involvement took place between February and October, when he was arrested in Bude, Cornwall by officers.

PC Rhys Jones, the officer in the case, said: “Pope was a trusted member of a county line gang which supplied cocaine between Caerphilly and Cornwall, playing a significant role in drug dealing.

“As highlighted by the recent county lines intensification week, our officers are working tirelessly to crack down on gangs and disrupt these county lines which cause so much misery to communities both in Gwent and across the country.

“This significant sentence shows that when we have the evidence, we will take the relevant steps to bring offenders, like Pope, before the courts to face justice.

“By disrupting supply lines and taking those involved out of circulation, we can make our communities safer.”

If you have concerns about drug dealing in your area, or are worried that someone you know might be at risk of exploitation, you can call Gwent Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.